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Archive for the tag “Ballot Integrity”

“It’s really sad that we’re in an environment where tax returns are leaked by whoever it may be” (…) “Just think about it. Think about how dangerous that is, how third world that is on a practice that happened. When personal information is put out by people for political agendas. As a civilian, it’s actually scary” – Eric Trump on Fox News (Tani, 2017).

It is just one of these days where the sons of President Donald Trump speaks their mind and hits the nail. The nail is in the coffin, with the knowledge of the plans to make the republic less attractive, less business-friendly, more lassiez-faire and more focused on army than on progressive financial instruments and regulation to create growth. Trump Administration is busy with deporting millions, building a wall and starting trade-wars. The U.S. Government does not need to be transparent or accountable while doing so. Especially, not in the minds of one of his sons. That claims something unique and special. I have claimed in the near past that under President Trump, the U.S. Government could turn the Republic into a Banana Republic, a sort of style government that could be described by others as a third world one. Therefore, let the dictionary explain that!

Eric Trump needs a definition of the Third World:

“1: a group of nations especially in Africa and Asia not aligned with either the Communist or the non-Communist blocs” (…) “2: an aggregate of minority groups within a larger predominant culture” (…) “3: the aggregate of the underdeveloped nations of the world” (Merriam-Webster).

So the United States can itself soon be fitted, not that it is an Asian or African nation, neither Communist, but still it is getting underdeveloped by the way the financial framework and industry is set-up under the Trump Administration. Where the Industry and Financial industry has the Administration by the balls and no eager of taking care of nature or the resources, except for eating the profits without giving anything back to the Republic. Just like the Oil Industry in Nigeria or in Ghana. The same as the mining and mineral industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So the United States under President Trump, will be similar. Eric Trump is not so far off, just not the way he thought he would be.

Another man’s vision:

“This brings about complete dysfunction. It makes everything — economy, politics, roads, bridges, police, school — broken and shitty. Those who can leave do. Making it worse. This leads to more extremism, and more corruption, and more cynicism. And sometimes extreme violence. Because the other side becomes evil” (…) “The US has been shifting towards all four of these over the last 30 years, with inequality leading the way. We are more divided, economically and socially, then we have ever been (we are less divided racially. But only marginally so.)” (Arnade, 2016).

So when you have a system on the brink of collapse, a wealthy elite eating of the government plate and settling score to not pay their bills to the public, while the citizens and middle-class cannot build a steady life or afforded needed services, you know there are something wrong with the system and the state. That makes the Eric Trump words so right, that United States is becoming more like a third world country, with a sophisticated army, but cannot afford health care, schools or infrastructure. Just like the countries President Trump doesn’t want to affiliate with or been seen with. Since him and his advisor Bannon are supposed to be superior, and like a dictator in a Third World country, he believes he is always right and isn’t wrong.

So one smudge of evidence of his fathers Tax Returns from 2005 leaked to MSNBC Rachel Maddow, proves the realization of the state, that the Trump Administration would dislike. As they are not capping the debt, neither taking into account their ideas of taxation and tax-releases, as much as their will to deregularte industry and financial institutions. Therefore, leading the space of more expenses and negative environmental policies, that damage earth and only gains profit for a slim elite. Just like a Third World Country.

This is degrading for the United States, but the harsh truth, the ideas and policies in the making, the killing of health insurance, the idea of building the giant nuclear silos, while not paying for food for the starving. Proves that the U.S. Government are no closer to countries it does not want to be affiliated with, but still can be consider to be assimilated with. President Trump and his administration is clearly not wishing to be differing from chauvinistically taking charge and not caring what effect it has. Clearly, it is only his image that matter, just like any big-man and authoritarian leader.

So, soon we can say that the United States is underdeveloped and need aid, as their waters are daft, the industry is lacking technology, the roads are more potholes than tarmac, the bridges are weak, their railways not working and often not trusted. The United States has soon more expensive foreign imported goods, than what they produce and is losing money on their export of cash crops as soya and other grain. Therefore, President Trump leading his Republic to become underdeveloped or become a Third World Country.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from one of my heroes, President Lincoln. I think it’s an important message for all of us today, and I’m sure you want to hear me read Lincoln speeches in my Austrian accent. Remember, today, the campaign is behind us. We aren’t enemies. We are neighbors. We are friends. We are all Americans, and we have a lot of work to do” (Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2016)

Just days after I write about the coming Banana Republic made out of the Republic of United States of America, then the newly elected, who happens to be President-Elect has in timely fashion collected together his coalition of the willing to succeed President Obama and his Democratic Party. Therefore he has follow traits of fellow compatriots of other states that involve family, friends and fellow business associates. So that the American Experience under President Trump, can become a Family Affair and a true to my word a Banana Republic; thanks for delivering that one Mr. President!

Let us recount what nepotism is and do that by opening up a book called a dictionary and see what it recall and what it means, really means, bigly!

Two definitions from the dictionary:

First: “the unfair practice by a powerful person of giving jobs and other favors to relatives”.

As of today the Trump Organization makes themselves ready for the White House, the Oval Office and try to make Donald Trump, Presidential. I am sure that the Republican Party had some people who we’re qualified to help on the way, as the party should have somebody who has delegated and had honest responsibility in government in the past. Still, they we’re all pick-away from the newly elected President. These people better be good suited because the Presidential Transition team has certain aspects to consider as these:

Memorandum of Understanding with the Obama Administration:

“The Edward “Ted” Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015 requires the incumbent administration to negotiate such an MOU with both major party candidates. These MOUs would, at a minimum, cover the conditions of access to agency employees, facilities and documents by transition team staff” (Presidential Transition Guide, P: 20, 2016).

Up to the Candidate:

“It will be up to the candidate, transition chair and executive director to decide the right mix of skills, expertise and personality in rounding out the transition’s senior leadership team. Some positions require a deep network of contacts while others demand political savvy or stellar communication skills. Assembling a team that functions smoothly, stays on task and makes good management decisions is essential” (Presidential Transition Guide, P: 38, 2016).

Even if it is up to the Candidate to pick the mix of the Transition team, we should still be allowed to question the Presidential Candidate, if Hillary Clinton had picked Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, we would have addressed that and called that corrupt behaviour.

Today the Trump Administration hired these fellow family members to the Transition Team:

Donald Trump Jr, the first-born son, who happens to be the Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Ivanka Trump, the oldest-daughter, who happens also be a Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Eric Trump, the third child of the first wife, is also a Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Jared Kushner, the husband of Ivanka Trump, the CEO of Kushner Companies and has successfully run the New York Observer.

So four key people inside the Transition team is close family members, I am sure if Barron Trump we’re old enough he would have been put in the mix. This is A-Typical nepotism as the major parts of 17 people team, with Vice President Elect Mike Pence on the top of it. The Nepotism is clearly following, but knowingly how little Trump trust anybody else than himself, the team is set-up to make sure his will get through the hurdles of power and that the procedure will follow.

Outsiders to the Transition Team:

Peter Thiel, a co-founder of Pay-Pal and helped Hulk Hogan to sue Gawker.

Rebecca Mercer, the daughter of the major donor of Robert Mercer, the founder of Breitbart and other institutions to change policy in America.

Expected for the Transition Team:

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, the man who has to carry water-buckets for Trump the next 4 years.

CEO of Trump for PresidentStephen K. Bannon, the former CEO of Breitbart Radio and Media and the former film-director that actually still collects royalties from Seinfeld!

These are some of it, if you’re surprised by this you shouldn’t be. The other close connected political affiliates are someone who has been near him as a businessman. So he continues to connect, not only family but with the ones who has interfered with the Trump Organization.

Like the Auditor General Pam Bondi of Florida State:

“What attracted far less attention than the numerous stories about the Clinton/Foundation connection was news disclosed by the Washington Post that Donald Trump paid a penalty to the IRS involving a $25,000 gift by the Trump Foundation” (…) “The recipient was a political committee called And Justice for All controlled by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. As a registered nonprofit, the Trump Foundation was not allowed to make political donations. The gift violated federal regulations” (…) “That the gift was given and received is not in dispute. The transaction took place. After the IRS action, Mr. Trump reimbursed the foundation and paid the $2,500 fine personally, according to a spokesman for the Trump Organization” (Miami Herald Editorial Board – ‘Donald Trump’s gift to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi deserves a closer look’ (06.09.2016) Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article100286287.html#storylink=cpy).

She has apparently already been offered money and been an ally of Trump, since she hasn’t solicited the Trump University like the Auditor General in New York; the Trump Campaign sees it fit to hire her on the Transitional Team. That proves that close connections to Trump in the past pays off right now.

Also on the Team is the Fox Business News (FBN) and Republican giant fund-raiser Anthony Scaramucci. The Skybridge Captial hedge-fund capitalist who turned into a Republican newscaster and such; he is also been the Trump Financial Adviser. Who has said this:

“Republican Party loyalist Anthony Scaramucci, 52, the co-founder of SkyBridge Capital Management, which invests in hedge funds (including Paulson’s), was a lead organizer of last night’s event. He is in the red this year, down about 4 percent through mid-June. But like Trump, Scaramucci has morphed into a performer, with a weekly cable-TV show on Fox Business — Wall Street Week — and an annual Las Vegas confab for hedge-fund bigwigs and their investors. The high-octane event also features movie stars and politicos, and Scaramucci prides himself on being able to bring diverse groups together. (Whether or not it was Scaramucci’s doing, hard-core Ted Cruz supporter Robert Mercer, billionaire co-CEO of the Long Island–based hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, was moved to attend the event and officially become a Trump donor.)”(Michelle Celarier – ‘Meet the Wall Street Titans Who Back Trump’ (22.07.2016) link: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/meet-the-wall-street-titans-who-back-trump.html).

So they guy who was able to collect the needed funds and connect with the billionaire Robert Mercer, get hired into the team as payback for service rendered. It’s proves the liability and not the talents, skills, experience or even necessary knowledge of how to build a needed cabinet and Presidential Advisors for the Trump Administrations.

We can all question the selections of men and woman who has become parts of the Trump Transitional Team, as there are too many questions to their obligations and their needed skill-set for creating a smooth and good Government. This are people connected directly to the Trump Organization, and very few people are connected with Congress and the House; also the weakness of system.

The people of the congress that are selected by the Transitional Team are the ones that endorsed Trump like Pennsylvania Congressman Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Congressman Tom Marino, Congresswoman of Tennessee Marsha Blackburn and California Congressmen Devin Nunes. So the men picked by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and accepted now by the Vice-President Elect Mike Pence. Show’s the handpicked portefolio that is expected in away, still different from the other ones picked to the team. To pick political affiliated and bearers of the same vision of the future is normal. As these persons are believing in the same kind of racial, immigrations scared kind of reality as the current elected President Trump. So this is sort of normal, like Obama picked men and woman with visions similar to himself. That is accepted, but we can still bounce at them.

A bleak prediction:

We can surely look forward to Ivanka Trump becoming Secretary of Health and Human Services, Eric Trump becoming Secretary of Labour and Donald Trump Jr becomes Secretary of the Interior. Son-In-Law Jared Kushner becoming the Secretary of The Treasury, so the family is running the Republic in the image after their paternal leader Donald Trump…

I hope that isn’t happening, but one of them might end up White House Chief of Staff, as he wants a trustworthy man to be in charge of appointments by the President and during his term in office.

We can question the collective attitude with the selection of this Transitional Team to takeover for President Obama and his administration. We should then see if they make wise decisions of picks men and woman who kiss-ass the President in the past, or people who are fit for the offices, so the skill-set and the experience for the growth of the state.

The Nepotism might have started, don’t be surprised if even Michael Sexton from Trump University gets a sweet-spot in the Administration. The loyalty showed in the past, might pay-off and the ones that has suited Trump before, might be the ones who are credible to work with him now.

So the favouritism and family matters are coming in function this time around. That the Trump Organization will be vital part of the White House will most likely become running questions of just appointments and use of state funds that just happens to benefit businesses owned by the President.

We can now, by the quickly appointed men and woman sees a possible pattern and question if the Presidency will be righteous or just fitting Trump himself. Which should be a worry, the Tea Pot Scandal of the 1920s could be replicated by the Trump administration:

“During the Teapot Dome scandal, Albert B. Fall, who served as secretary of the interior in President Warren G. Harding’s cabinet, is found guilty of accepting a bribe while in office. Fall was the first individual to be convicted of a crime committed while a presidential cabinet member” (…) “As a member of President Harding’s corruption-ridden cabinet in the early 1920s, Hall accepted a $100,000 interest-free “loan” from Edward Doheny of the Pan-American Petroleum and Transport Company, who wanted Fall to grant his firm a valuable oil lease in the Elk Hills naval oil reserve in California. The site, along with the Teapot Dome naval oil reserve in Wyoming, had been previously transferred to the Department of the Interior on the urging of Fall, who evidently realized the personal gains he could achieve by leasing the land to private corporations” (…) “In October 1923, the Senate Public Lands Committee launched an investigation that revealed not only the $100,000 bribe that Fall received from Doheny but also that Harry Sinclair, president of Mammoth Oil, had given him some $300,000 in government bonds and cash in exchange for use of the Teapot Dome oil reserve in Wyoming” (…) “In 1927, the oil fields were restored to the U.S. government by a Supreme Court decision. Two years later, Fall was convicted of bribery and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.Doheny escaped conviction, but Sinclair was imprisoned for contempt of Congress and jury tampering” (History.com – ‘1929 Cabinet member guilty in Teapot Dome scandal’ link: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cabinet-member-guilty-in-teapot-dome-scandal).

So we could easily see some cabinet minister offering agreement between the President Trump that benefits businesses owned by the Trump Organization who needs fresh funding and could be similar to the Tea Pot Scandal. Don’t be surprised as the Nepotism game has started and the proof will be the indication of the next steps of policy and procedures from the White House administration under Donald J. Trump. Peace.

Well, ladies and gentleman the super-power called the United States of America, is a dying dinosaur that Michael Moore or even Jay-Z doesn’t have the power to change. Today was a shock for many, even for me as the American Electorate decided to elect a Demagogue of ill-rhetoric towards certain ethnic groups like the Latin-American, Women and so-on. Donald Trump in his power and commander-in-chief will remarkably create havoc.

All of this is well known, but what the United States’ citizens didn’t think about when they voted against the establishment on protest against the D.C. power-structure they voted for a man with certain traits that can put certain pieces of the Government into shambles. So before I start; for those of you who don’t know, here is the definition of a banana republic!

“It was coined in a 1904 book of fiction by O. Henry, an American writer. Henry (whose real name was William Sydney Porter) was on the run from Texan authorities, who had charged him with embezzlement” (…) “His phrase neatly conjures up the image of a tropical, agrarian country. But its real meaning is sharper: it refers to the fruit companies from the United States that came to exert extraordinary influence over the politics of Honduras and its neighbours. By the end of the 19th century, Americans had grown sick of trying to grow fruit in their own chilly country. It was sweeter and cheaper by far to import it instead from the warmer climes of Central America, where bananas and other fruit grow quickly. Giants such as the United Fruit Company—an ancestor of Chiquita—moved in and built roads, ports and railways in return for land. In 1911 the Cuyamel Fruit Company, another American firm (which was later bought by United), supplied the weapons for a coup against the government of Honduras, and prospered under the newly installed president. In 1954 America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) backed a coup against the government of Guatemala, which had threatened the interests of United. (Historians still debate whether the CIA’s motive was to protect United or, as many now believe, to nip Communism in the bud.) Hence the real meaning of a “banana republic”: a country in which foreign enterprises push the government around” (The Economist, 2013).

Why do I believe this, it’s because of all his sort-of promises over the months. There is all kind of activities that proves the clear indications of a Banana Republic on the rise. The Americans might think otherwise, that is because there are blind on how the state really is.

“The United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 104.17 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2015. Government Debt to GDP in the United States averaged 61.94 percent from 1940 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 121.70 percent in 1946 and a record low of 31.70 percent in 1974. Government Debt to GDP in the United States is reported by the U.S. Bureau of Public Debt” (Trading Economics).

So the average debt level or ratio is staggering already. This is not tackled because the creditors accept the debt levels are raising, just as seen with the numbers from Trading Economics are showing during 30 years the percentage has gone up over 70 %, which should be frightening to any economy. When you have that level of debt, you should be able to have a heavy tax-base to collect and pay the debt.

Taxing under Trump:

“US taxes are low relative to those in other developed countries. In 2012, US taxes at all levels of government represented 24 percent of GDP, compared with an average of 34 percent of GDP for the 34 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)” (…) “The United States collects relatively less revenue dedicated to retirement, disability, and other social security programs—22 percent of total tax revenue—than the 26 percent OECD average” (…) “Property taxes provided more than twice as large a share of US tax revenue—12 percent in 2012—than the OECD average of 5 percent. Almost all revenue from taxes on property in the United States is collected by state and local governments” (…) “The United States relies less on taxes on goods and services (including both general consumption taxes and taxes on specific goods and services) than any other OECD country, collecting 18 percent of tax revenue this way compared with 33 percent for the OECD. The value-added tax (VAT)—a type of general consumption tax collected in stages—is the main source of consumption tax revenue, employed worldwide in 160 countries including all 34 OECD member countries except the United States. Most consumption tax revenue in the United States is collected by state and local governments” (Hoo & Toder, 2006).

So when the Federal and Republic itself has such a giant debt ratio, the taxes should be high and should be to the levels of actually having the ability to pay it back. As they do not even have VAT on goods that is very normal world-wide, but apparently isn’t a thing in the United States. This proves the mismanagement of potential tax-base that the Government need to succeed to pay their debt. This is before the Election yesterday.

This is the taxes planned under Trump: “According to the Tax Foundation’s Taxes and Growth Model, the plan would reduce federal revenue by between $4.4 trillion and $5.9 trillion on a static basis. The amount depends on the nature of a key business policy provision” (…) “After accounting for the larger economy and the broader tax base, the plan would reduce revenues by between $2.6 trillion and $3.9 trillion after accounting for the larger economy, depending on the nature of a key policy provision” (…) “On a static basis, the Trump tax plan would increase the after-tax incomes of taxpayers in every income group. The bottom 80 percent of taxpayers (those in the bottom four quintiles) would see an increase in after-tax income between 0.8 percent and 1.9 percent, under both policy assumptions. Taxpayers in the top quintile would see a 4.4 percent increase in after-tax income under the higher-rate assumption, or 8.7 percent under the lower-rate assumption. Those in the top decile would see a 5.4 percent increase in after-tax income under the higher-rate assumption, or 9.3 percent under the lower-rate assumption. Finally, taxpayers in the top 1 percent would see the largest increase in after-tax income on a static basis, driven by both the lower top marginal tax rate and the lower corporate income tax. Under the higher-rate assumption this increase would be 10.2 percent, and under the lower-rate assumption this increase would be 16.0 percent” (Cole, 2016).

So when the government are axing it income, while the economy running on a deficit your making no-sense. Your continue to spend on deficit while cutting taxes; the taxed ones are the ones who voted for Trump, the bottom 80% will get higher taxes, while corporations and 1% riches will get less. So the richer will get richer. A real proof of a Banana Republic where the solidarity towards the ones who needs so. They who voted for him is the ones that will pay on his tax-plan, which is ironic.

This is on the direct economic sense, now on health care. Here he proves again he will hurt the ones who voted for him, the poor and what is left of the working-class:

“The policies would cause almost 21 million people to lose their insurance coverage, as the replacement health care policies would only cover 5 percent of the 22 million individuals who would lose coverage upon the repeal of Obamacare. This would almost double the number of Americans without health insurance” (…) “The largest component of this estimate comes from the “repeal.” The campaign website proposes to “completely repeal Obamacare,” which we assume to mean repealing the Affordable Care Act’s regulations, subsidies, Medicaid expansion, Medicare savings, and tax increases. Although repealing the coverage provisions would save about $1.1 trillion, based on Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates (adjusted for recent legislation and changes in the budget window), repealing the legislation’s tax increases and Medicare cuts would cost a combined $1.6 trillion. In total, this means repeal would cost $480 billion – or $260 billion including the economic benefits of repeal” (Committee for a responsible Federal Budget, 2016).

So the Trump Administration are planning to hurt their own, the ones that has gotten through the Obamacare gotten some sorts of subsidized medical insurance, something he wants to repeal and will even make sure to cost the state more. So the educated minds will know that people has to carry insurance on their own while the state pays more to abolish the Obamacare. The 21 million individuals will regret questioning the medical treatment through Obamacare, as the Federal State will add more money. So the people are getting higher tax for the same 80% who losing their health insurance. Do the American citizens prefer punishing themselves?

As with the true implications of NAFTA:

“Customs duties reductions led to increases in trade with the other two countries of 11% in Canada, 41% in the United States, and 118% in Mexico, for the period between 1993 and 2011.5 In terms of value, American trade with Canada and Mexico increased from US$481 billion in 1993 to US$1.1 trillion in 2015. While Donald Trump claims that Americans “don’t make anything anymore,” implying that NAFTA is to blame, the American manufacturing sector has increased production by 58% since the deal came into effect” (Bedard, 2016).

So the results of NAFTA are apparently different in reality than what comes across when coming to Trump, so the reality hasn’t mattered. He wants to dissolve or change the rules and regulations, this will make it harder to export and import products between Canada and Mexico into the United States. The United States need free-movement of products and industrial products to be able to have the Corporate Capitalism that drives the USA.

So with lower taxes in general, a higher cost of health-care without concern for the 21 million without health insurance. They now are getting more problems with exporting and importing the needed products and raw-material has been possible and even at longest part of the NAFTA agreement has been positive to the US. So the regulation and cooperation with neighbours will be harder because of barriers that will be created with abolishing the NAFTA.

This is still all economic implications… then you have the gun-control, the war-lord aspects and the other social policies mixed with the economic aspect that turns the ones giant and great nation into tatters, if the President Donald Trump gets to do as he pleases without questions.

We should consider it with the implication on the policies and the foreign affairs. The US Government would lose with their plans on playing hardball with NATO and others. With the Muslims ban and deportation, also the Latin-American population that has been singled out; these groups can hurt the economy and also the basic workforce who does the needed services needed in society. That these will be sent out because of their ethnicity and faith will also prove that the United States isn’t the leaders of free-world, but another tyranny under President Trump. The fear and loathing of the Republican President Trump! That will do like the Americans did during Second World-War when Japanese for being so we’re detained into camps, or if he pleases send them packing.

This racial laws and deportations will hurt the economy and make sure the state becomes a Banana Republic; What is special is that the United States will have a free-flow of guns, ammunition, but will make it harder to import goods and also export goods with worse deals, have lesser taxes, still high debt yield and add expenses on health-care while the citizens has to cover themselves. This while the US President hasn’t a plan to help lower-classes as the minimum-pay or salaries increase for the 80% who still get added tax, also pay more for health care. The US Electorate got all reasons for feeling foolish if they even read this.

Bananas and Banana Company we’re President William Howard Taft did what he could to save the companies. Now the new President might try to replicate this, but he forgets the needed international community and production as the needed bolts, tools and manufacturing are inter-connected. That is something that the modern day President Trump needs.

Side Note – International Partnerships:

So if he builds walls, gets into whiny bitch mode and becomes a fully-blown attack paranoid mode, than the international partners will not accept being constantly bullied. I am sure that Philippines C-I-C President Rodigro Duterte will be tossed around for another power or human being. Neither will Russian President Vladimir Putin and even German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not accept it. So the price of him being brash and irresponsible thin-skinned versus the ones that questions his actions or words, isn’t really suitable with the trading partners and allies that the U.S. still needs. The US doesn’t live in a vacuum and not the only one with a giant defence and has much money to spend like on AGOA and others.

So congratulation on becoming a Banana-Republic, ready to become muffled with after playing king-pin… for decades; as your economic prospects under the Trump Administration and regime doesn’t look healthy. Peace.